Dez Cadena | |
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Cadena with Misfits in 2011
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Background information | |
Birth name | Dez Paul Cadena |
Born |
Newark, New Jersey, United States |
June 2, 1961
Genres | Punk rock, horror punk, Hardcore punk |
Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, songwriter, guitarist |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
Years active | 1980–present |
Labels | SST, Misfits |
Associated acts | Misfits, The Gentlemen, Black Flag, Redd Kross, FLAG |
Notable instruments | |
Gibson Flying V Gibson Sonex Gibson Les Paul Schecter C-1 XXX B.C. Rich Warlock |
Dez Cadena (born Dez Paul Cadena; June 2, 1961) is an American punk rock singer and guitarist. He was the third vocalist and later rhythm guitarist for hardcore punk band Black Flag from 1980 to 1983. Cadena played guitar with the Misfits from 2001 to 2015, initially joining the band alongside Doyle, Jerry Only and Robo for their 25th Anniversary Tour and has served as the band's longest tenured guitarist. He resides in Newark, New Jersey.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, his father, Ozzie Cadena, was a well-known A&R man in the music industry, and the co-founder of iconic jazz label Savoy Records.
Dez Cadena joined Black Flag in 1980, replacing singer Ron Reyes. During the first year of touring with the band, his hoarse voice became a recognizable and often imitated style of singing in hardcore punk. Eventually, and due in part to straining his voice, Cadena decided he wanted to play guitar. Henry Rollins joined as vocalist, and for a period, Cadena played rhythm guitar alongside founder Greg Ginn, including on the seminal 1981 album Damaged.
Cadena went on to play in DC3. Before, during and after his stint in Black Flag, Cadena was a member of Redd Kross, Twisted Roots, and Ella and the Blacks, a band which he co-founded. He also made a guest appearance on Hüsker Dü's 1984 double album, Zen Arcade.